Lucky 13

Everything That Was Important in 2013

2013 had everything: game-changing tacos, throwback drive-in theaters and a slew of fancy new restaurants.
Join us on a leisurely virtual stroll through the year that was...

SOUTH BEACH GOT SERIOUS DRINKS

The Regent and Sweetwater Beer Garden

First the Regent Cocktail Club graced you with well-dressed bartenders slinging things like Hemingway
daiquiris in a refined hideaway off Collins. Then Sweetwater showed up with tiki torches and started spiking
fresh-squeezed juices of bell pepper and ginger. Finally some good reasons to hit South Beach.

Swine and Patpong Road

Had the folks from 50 Eggs merely given you Yardbird and Khong, it would have been enough. But this year
they delivered to you one hickory-log-filled shrine to smoked meats and an illicit lair of Thai noodles and
cocktails served in ziplock bags. So yeah, they’re not running out of ideas.

It’s not a fussy place. It’s not an exclusive place. It’s just a place that decided Cuban food could
get a little gastropub-y and did magical things with torrejas, pan con tomate and fritas. And “Best Cuban
in Miami” lists were quickly revised...

A new outpost of taco mastery is reason enough to rejoice. If it’s also from the Haven chef and serving
you fried-chicken-stuffed tortillas until 5am on the weekends, then all the better. You don’t like to be
rushed on the weekends. Or... ever.

The Blue Starlite Drive-In caught your eye for a number of reasons. First, the Halloween horror flicks and
Indiana Jones marathons were fun. Also, the s’mores were a nice touch. You do your best
movie-watching with marshmallows nearby.

Lure Fishbar and Catch Miami

This year you met two very glitzy fish-centric spots. One had whole Cantonese lobster and a nightclub
attached to it. The other proffered seafood towers and oozed New York swagger. Both let you feast on sushi
and insanely fresh shellfish. They’re both good like that.

You expected something nice from chef Philippe Ruiz. You didn’t expect a super-glossy home to things like
grilled duck breast and foie toast. Now that he’s brought you this, you’re doing business lunches over
lobster ravioli. Or at least they start out as business lunches.